Capital Markets

The securities exchange in Muscat is a vital component of the Omani economy. The bourse serves as a showcase for the sultanate’s large enterprises, but its primary function is to act as an arena in which pooled capital can be distributed to investment sectors. In 2015, for example, the exchange had the capacity to provide OR2.56bn ($6.6bn) in funding. Throughout 2016, however, subdued oil prices and concerns about slow growth in emerging economies have made for a challenging environment, and the task of attracting liquidity to the market has become the key concern facing the authorities and regulator. As of late 2016, procedural and regulatory adjustments were being put into place to address these issues, and were expected to be central to the capital market’s ability to maintain its role in the domestic economy. This chapter contains an interview with Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Balushi, Group CEO, Ominvest.